Social network analysis

ABSTRACT

This invention is generally directed to one or more systems or methods relating to social network analysis. More specifically, this invention is generally directed to one or more systems or methods relating to personal communication networks and the analysis of personal-communication-network data.

CROSS REFERENCE TO ELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority from PCT applicationPCT/US2004/030259, filed on Sep. 15, 2004, now published asWO2006/041425. This prior application is hereby incorporated into thepresent application by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is generally directed to one or more systems or methodsrelating to social network analysis. More specifically, this inventionis generally directed to one or more systems or methods relating topersonal communication networks and the analysis ofpersonal-communication-network data.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When seeking information, many people rely upon sources such as theinternet, intranets, pamphlets, magazines, and advertisements to providethem with adequate information and ultimately to aid in theirdecision-making process. In their searches, however, to such sourcesoften include barriers that prevent people from acquiring the valid,reliable and useful information they need. Notably, the anonymity of theinternet prevents people from trusting the reliability of theinformation source. Clearly, most people would rather consult theirfriends and colleagues that they know and trust on a first name basis—orknowledgeable people that they know through their friends andcolleagues—when seeking the answer to a particular question. Forexample, it is well known that informal communication via personalcommunication networks allows decision makers to reduce the uncertaintyregarding unfamiliar technologies and/or products by questioning andconsulting trusted others. Posing questions to the members of one'spersonal communication network allows individuals to obtain first,second, and third-hand accounts from individuals they know directly orthrough intermediaries. Theoretically, the varied experiences of one'snetwork of peers, acquaintances, and people connected to the personthrough countless others should more than adequately serve to answerone's questions. Unfortunately, experiential and other knowledge can bedifficult to procure; because people are unaware of who in theirinterpersonal network has experience or information regarding theinformation they seek, informal searches for advice can seem arbitrary,unfocused, and inefficient. The absence of a formal map or knowledge ofcommunication structure prevents the person from realizing the fullpotential of the collective IQ of his network of friends and colleagues.

Social network analysis is known and has been described as the mappingand measuring of relationships and flows between people, groups,organizations, computers, or other information/knowledge processingentities.

Social network analysis (SNA) can be used to generate data and drawconclusions based upon the flow of information (or other resources)within a social network. SNA maps the relationships of people within asocial network in order to monitor, understand, and utilize theinformational flow within the network—who do people get theirinformation from and who do they give it to? A social network isdistinct from an organizational chart because the organizational chartshows formal relationships—who works where and who reports to whom. Onthe other hand, a social-network-analysis map shows more informalrelationships—who knows who and who do they share information with. SNAtherefore facilitates visualizing and understanding personalrelationships that can either facilitate or impede knowledge creationand sharing.

While social network analysis is known, little has been done tostreamline its use in an effort to maximize its potential. Further,implementations of social-network analysis have yet to be fullyexplored. Specifically, most individuals interested in social networkdata have merely conducted interviews or surveys to obtain the data, andthey have then kept the conclusions drawn from such data exclusively inthe world of academia. For example, sociologists who studied thediffusion of hybrid seeds through the social networks of farmers in Iowapublished their findings in academic journals. They did not, however,disclose the conclusions that they reached based on the analysis oftheir data to the general public.

SNA is gaining popularity in the field of marketing in order tofacilitate the diffusion of innovations (e.g., new products) throughcustomer networks. To this end, a number of companies have conductedpreliminary data analyses using SNA in an attempt to map customernetworks and determine who most customers contact for advice within aparticular domain. In theory, if a company can identify and market tothe small percentage of people that make up the opinion leadership oropinion leaders within a given customer network, they can lower both thecost of marketing and the time it takes for the innovation to diffusethrough the customer network. Marketing departments are thereforeanxious to identify “opinion leaders” within a given field. Suchindividuals are often highly connected “hubs” within a social networkweb, and they are important targets for marketing because other membersin the customer network often go to them for advice regarding the latesttrends and innovations. Clearly, the ability to selectively targetopinion leaders, which may cut advertising and marketing costs whilesimultaneously increasing the effectiveness of marketing messages, wouldbe highly beneficial. However, with current technology, collecting,mapping, and identifying what role each potential customer plays withina given network demands considerable time, effort, and money-making suchan approach prohibitive to all but a few companies.

While companies first demonstrated interest in the utility of SNA fortargeted marketing in the 1950's, prior-art technology is slow andcumbersome. Most recently in the pharmaceutical domain, somepharmaceutical companies gathered relational information within themedical field by sending a two-page survey to approximately 800,000physicians in the United States. The pharmaceutical companies paid eachparticipating physician approximately $250 for their time, but thesurvey yielded only a 5% to 8% response rate—this equates to a one time$10,000,000 to $16,000,000 data-collection procedure. Furtherlimitations on the accuracy or utility of such a strategy include the“static” nature of a one-time survey that fails to capture the dynamicnature of social networks.

Additional prior-art methods for performing SNA exist. One prior artmethod attempts to draw an inference on who is well known andinfluential within the field of medicine based on general publications,conference presentations and disclosures. This prior-art method isclearly limited because of its highly inferential nature and its lack ofa social-network map that clearly depicts the informal and formalcommunication links between physicians. In other words, the approach islacking because the data does not directly and clearly correspond toadvice, influence, or communication among physicians. Clearly, a newapproach to the collection of reliable, valid, meaningful, andcost-effective social-network data is needed.

In the domains of leisure and entertainment, parlor games such as “SixDegrees of Kevin Bacon” and websites such as “Friendster” and “LinkedIn”have demonstrated the ability of the internet to create social networksof friends and business associates for the purposes of making friends,finding dates, identifying potential job candidates, and seekingemployment. A major drawback of such popular social-network sites,however, is the seemingly arbitrariness of the links between users.Allowing “friends” to link to one another in a situation that almostpromotes competition to score high volumes of links creates a chaoticenvironment wherein the context, strength, or value of relationshipsbetween users cannot be ascertained. Arbitrary links undermine theutility of social networks that purport to connect people to trustworthysecond and third-degree contacts premised upon mutual “friends.”Therefore, the data captured and utilized by these websites is highlyunreliable. Because the websites have not set parameters, guidelines, ornorms to govern or define the links between users, the social networksgenerated by these sites provide limited aid to users and are nearlyuseless to parties interested in using social-network data for their ownpurposes.

Prior-art methods for inviting new people into social networks online orindicating first-degree contacts via a survey typically lack thesophistication to accurately capture the directionality of anestablished social-network link. It is generally known thatsocial-network links can be either unidirectional (e.g., from A to B) orbi-directional (e.g., from A to B and from B to A). Reliable, valid, andmeaningful social-network data typically necessitates the directionalityof the links within a social-network. Establishing and recordingaccurate directionality information about social-network links increasesboth the meaning and utility of a social-network map and social-networkdata generated therefrom. Prior-art methods for inviting (or listing)people into a social network often erroneously or prematurely inferbi-directional relationships—and misinterpretation of the directionalityof a link leads to misleading information.

More specifically, prior-art methods directed to determining thedirectionality of social-network links do not provide a means to confirmthe actual existence of a unidirectional or bi-directional link. Forexample, in the prior art, a first person will typically declare that asecond person is linked to the first person, and as a result, the secondperson is incorporated into the first person's social network as aunidirectional or bi-directional link. Note that the prior-art methodsdon't provide for providing a means for confirming the existence ordirectionality of the link. In other words, the prior art doesn'tprovide for a method by which the second person can confirm or deny therelationship that the first person has alleged. Further, if a firstperson listed a second person as a member of the first person's socialnetwork, then the prior art doesn't provide a way to consult the secondperson as a means to confirm the relationship. The art therefore needs amore accurate method for determining the directionality of asocial-network link.

Relatedly, prior-art internet search engines are typically designed tomatch search criteria—general words, names, phrases, etc.—with a list of“best fit” websites, based upon keywords and the popularity of thewebsites. The recent application of social networks to such searchengines has introduced the concept of including evaluation of websitesby an individual's contacts in the ranked presentation of the “best fit”websites. There still, however, remains a need in the art for anelectronic search engine that can both: identify individuals in a fieldof interest that have knowledge regarding the searched topic and how thesearcher is connected through a set of intermediaries to the individualthat possesses the knowledge, and allows the searcher to ascertain thedegree to which the person and information can be trusted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In general, the present invention provides a method for classifying atleast one personal-communication-network member as an opinion leader ina field of interest by using personal-communication-network data, themethod comprising the step: classifying at least onepersonal-communication-network member as an opinion leader in a field ofinterest based upon personal-communication-network data.

The present invention further provides a method for classifying at leastone personal-communication-network member as an opinion leader in afield of interest by using personal-communication-network data, themethod comprising the step: classifying at least one person as anopinion leader in a field of interest based upon the quantity ofmemberships that the at least one person has in personal communicationnetworks, wherein all of the networks have the field of interest incommon.

The present invention further provides a method for classifying at leastone personal-communication-network member as an opinion leader in afield of interest by using personal-communication-network data, themethod comprising the step: classifying a person as an opinion leaderwithin a field of interest based upon the quantity of electroniccommunications that the person has sent topersonal-communication-network members in the field of interest.

The present invention further provides a method for classifying at leastone personal-communication-network member as an opinion leader in afield of interest by using personal-communication-network data, themethod comprising the step: classifying a person as an opinion leaderwithin a field of interest based upon the quantity of electroniccommunications that the person has received frompersonal-communication-network members in the field of interest.

The present invention further provides a method for classifying at leastone personal-communication-network member as an opinion leader in afield of interest by using personal-communication-network data, themethod comprising the step: classifying a person as an opinion leader ina field of interest based upon a variable selected from the groupconsisting of: the quantity of communications between nodes, thefrequency of communication between nodes, the number of words in acommunication between nodes, the direction of communication betweennodes, the number of key words in a communication between nodes, andcombinations thereof.

The present invention further provides a system for classifying at leastone personal-communication-network member as an opinion leader in afield of interest by using personal-communication-network data, thesystem comprising: a means for classifying at least onepersonal-communication-network member as an opinion leader in a field ofinterest based upon data generated from the person's participation orinteraction with the at least one personal communication network.

The present invention further provides a system for classifying at leastone personal-communication-network member as an opinion leader in afield of interest by using personal-communication-network data, thesystem comprising: a means for classifying at least onepersonal-communication-network member as an opinion leader in a field ofinterest based upon the quantity of memberships that the at least onepersonal-communication-network member has in personal communicationnetworks, wherein all of the networks have the field of interest incommon.

The present invention further provides a system for classifying at leastone personal-communication-network member as an opinion leader in afield of interest by using personal-communication-network data, thesystem comprising: a means for classifying a person as an opinion leaderwithin a field of interest based upon the quantity of electroniccommunications that the person has sent topersonal-communication-network members in the field of interest.

The present invention further provides a system for classifying at leastone personal-communication-network member as an opinion leader in afield of interest by using personal-communication-network data, thesystem comprising: a means for classifying a person as an opinion leaderwithin a field of interest based upon the quantity of electroniccommunications that the person has received frompersonal-communication-network members in the field of interest.

The present invention further provides a system for classifying at leastone personal-communication-network member as an opinion leader in afield of interest by using personal-communication-network data, thesystem comprising: a means for classifying a person as an opinion leaderin a field of interest based upon a variable selected from the groupconsisting of: the quantity of communications between nodes, thefrequency of communication between nodes, the number of words in acommunication between nodes, the direction of communication betweennodes, the number of key words in a communication between nodes, andcombinations thereof.

The present invention further provides a method for assessing a person'slikelihood to use a concept or product that is new to the person, themethod comprising the step: classifying a person's innovativeness basedupon the quantity of personal-communication-network invitations theperson has received from a personal-communication-network member.

The present invention further provides a system for assessing a person'slikelihood to use a concept or product that is new to the person, thesystem comprising: a means for classifying a person's innovativenessbased upon the quantity of personal-communication-network invitationsthe person has received from a personal-communication-network member.

The present invention further provides a system for assessing a person'slikelihood to use a concept or product that is new to the person, thesystem comprising: a means for classifying a person's innovativenessbased upon the length of time required for the person to respond to apersonal-communication-network invitation.

The present invention further provides a method for determining a topicof discussion between two personal-communication-network members, themethod comprising the steps: recording an electronic communication fromone personal-communication-network member to anotherpersonal-communication-network member; and quantifying or qualifying theuse of a key word or key phrase within the electronic communication.

The present invention further provides a method for evaluating arelationship between two personal-communication-network memberscomprising the step: evaluating a relationship between twopersonal-communication-network members by quantifying the number ofelectronic communications between the members, recording the frequencyof electronic communication between the members, recording the number ofwords in an electronic communication between the members, recording thedirection of communication between the members, recording the use ofkeywords in an electronic communication between the members, or acombination thereof.

The present invention further provides a method for using a single termor phrase to initiate a multi-tern search ofpersonal-communication-network data, the method comprising the step:searching personal-communication-network data for multiple terms orphrases by initiating a multi-term search of the data using one searchterm or phrase, wherein the one search term or phrase initiates the useof one or more second search terms or search phrases in the search.

The present invention further provides a method for defining thedirectionality of a link between nodes in apersonal-communication-network comprising the step: defining apersonal-communication-network link as unidirectional or bi-directionalbased upon whether an inviter wants to be a member of an invitee'spersonal communication network.

The present invention further provides a method for defining thedirectionality of a link between nodes in apersonal-communication-network comprising the step: defining apersonal-communication-network link as unidirectional or bi-directionalby determining whether an original invitee wants to send a reciprocalinvitation to an original inviter to become a member of the invitee'spersonal communication network.

The present invention further provides an invitation-and-acceptancemethod for creating a link in a personal communication network, themethod comprising the step: sending an invitation from a personalcommunication network member to an invitee, wherein the personalcommunication network member indicates in the invitation at least onefield of interest that the personal communication network member wouldlike to communicate about with the invitee.

The present invention further provides a method for displaying searchresults of a personal-communication-network-data search, the methodcomprising the step: displaying the results of apersonal-communication-network-data search by showing at least onepersonal-communication-network member that is identified by the searchand how a party conducting the search is linked to the at least onepersonal-communication-network member identified by the search.

The present invention further provides a method for displaying searchresults of a personal-communication-network-data search, the methodcomprising the step: displaying the results of apersonal-communication-network-data search by showing at least onepersonal-communication-network communication that is identified by thesearch and how a party conducting the search is linked to the at leastone personal-communication-network communication identified by thesearch.

The present invention further provides a system for determining a topicof discussion between two personal-communication-network members, thesystem comprising: a means for recording an electronic communicationfrom one personal-communication-network member to anotherpersonal-communication-network member; and a means for quantifying theuse of a key word or key phrase within the electronic communication.

The present invention further provides a system for evaluating arelationship between two personal-communication-network memberscomprising: a means for evaluating a relationship between twopersonal-communication-network members by quantifying the number ofelectronic communications between the members, recording the frequencyof electronic communication between the members, recording the number ofwords in an electronic communication between the members, recording thedirection of communication between the members, recording the use ofkeywords in an electronic communication between the members, or acombination thereof.

The present invention further provides a system for defining thedirectionality of a link between nodes in apersonal-communication-network comprising: a means for defining apersonal-communication-network link as unidirectional or bi-directionalbased upon whether an inviter wants to be a member of an invitee'spersonal communication network.

The present invention further provides a system for defining thedirectionality of a link between nodes in apersonal-communication-network comprising: a means for defining apersonal-communication-network link as unidirectional or hi-directionalbased upon whether an inviter wants to be a member of an invitee'spersonal communication network.

The present invention further provides a system for defining thedirectionality of a link between nodes in apersonal-communication-network comprising: a means for defining apersonal-communication-network link as unidirectional or bi-directionalby determining whether an original invitee wants to send a reciprocalinvitation to an original inviter to become a member of the invite'spersonal communication network.

The present invention further provides an invitation-and-acceptancesystem for creating a link in a personal communication network, thesystem comprising: a means for sending an invitation from a personalcommunication network member to an invitee, wherein the personalcommunication network member indicates in the invitation at least onefield of interest that the personal communication network member wouldlike to communicate about with the invitee.

The present invention further provides a system for displaying searchresults of a personal-communication-network data search, the systemcomprising: a means for displaying the results of apersonal-communication-network data search by showing at least onepersonal-communication-network member that is identified by the searchand how a party conducting the search is linked to the at least onepersonal-communication-network member identified by the search.

The present invention further provides a system for displaying searchresults of a personal-communication-network data search, the systemcomprising: a means for displaying the results of apersonal-communication-network data search by showing at least onepersonal-communication-network communication that is identified by thesearch and how a party conducting the search is linked to the at leastone personal-communication-network communication identified by thesearch.

The present invention further provides a system for identifying anopinion leader specialist physician within a social network ofphysicians on the basis of peer contacts and evaluations made throughthe network, the system comprising: a registration process forregistering the identity and specialties of a plurality of physiciansfor inclusion in the network; an invitation and acceptance process forestablishing links between physicians, an invitation including a messagefrom a physician in the network to an invitee physician indicating afield of interest for which the invitee physician is invited forinclusion in the network, and accept, decline and reciprocate responseoptions for the invitee physician, the response of the invitee physiciandetermining a status of a link between physicians as unidirectional orbi-directional; and a network analyzer which identifies an opinionleader specialist physician by specialization and an accounting andevaluation of links in the social network which indicate an opinionleader specialist physician.

The present invention further provides a method for identifying a commonfield of interest between at least two personal-communication-networkmembers, the method comprising the step: identifying a common field ofinterest between at least two personal-communication-network membersbased upon personal-communication-network data generated fromcommunications during an invitation-and-acceptance process.

The present invention further provides a method for identifying a commonfield of interest between at least two personal-communication-networkmembers, the method comprising the step: identifying a common field ofinterest between at least two personal-communication-network membersbased upon data generated from communications between the at least twopersonal-communication-network members.

The present invention further provides a system for identifying a commonfield of interest between at least two personal-communication-networkmembers, the system comprising: a means for identifying a common fieldof interest between at least two personal-communication-network membersbased upon data generated from communications during aninvitation-and-acceptance process.

The present invention further provides a system for identifying a commonfield of interest between at least two personal-communication-networkmembers, the system comprising: a means for identifying a common fieldof interest between at least two personal-communication-network membersbased upon data generated from communications between the at least twopersonal-communication-network members.

The present invention further provides a system comprising: a means forsearching personal-communication-network data.

The present invention further provides a system comprising: a means fordisplaying two or more different personal-communication-network pathsfrom a first node to a second node in a personal communication network,wherein the two or more different paths start at the first node and endat the second node.

The present invention further provides a method for displaying searchresults of a personal-communication-network data search, the methodcomprising the step: displaying search results of apersonal-communication-network data search, wherein the search resultsare displayed in a tabular form, wherein the tabular form has at leastone horizontal row and at least one vertical column wherein the at leastone row shows a social network path to a node, and the at least onecolumn shows the degrees of separation between the node and the personthat initiated the search.

The present invention further provides a method for apersonal-communication-network member to organizepersonal-communication-network communications, the method comprising thestep: having a personal-communication-network member archive apersonal-communication-network communication into apersonal-communication-network database that is searchable bypersonal-communication-network members, wherein the member designates asearchable term to be associated with the personal-communication-networkcommunication, and wherein a keyword search ofpersonal-communication-network data that uses the searchable term willreturn a search result that identifies thepersonal-communication-network communication.

The present invention further provides a method for organizing incomingpersonal-communication-network emails directed to a firstpersonal-communication-network member from a secondpersonal-communication-network member, the method comprising the step:redirecting an incoming personal-communication-network email invitationfrom a personal-communication-network member's primary email address toa second email address that is directed to receivingpersonal-communication-network email invitations.

This invention generally advances the art by providing an inventiveembodiment that provides an explicit context forpersonal-communication-network links so that meaningfulpersonal-communication-network data can be generated, e.g., linkingnetwork members that communicate regarding a common field of interest.

This invention further advances the art by providing an inventiveembodiment that provides a real-time online social network or personalcommunication network—so that dynamic social-network data orpersonal-communication-network data is reflected in real-time dataacquisition and analysis.

This invention further advances the art by providing an inventiveembodiment that identifies differing degrees of innovativeness ofsocial-network members or personal-communication-network members inorder to create a detailed and efficient marketing strategy.

This invention further advances the art by providing an inventiveembodiment for collecting social-network data orpersonal-communication-network data to supplement self-report data andusing the data to create an accurate map of one or more social networksor personal communication networks.

This invention further advances the art by providing an inventiveembodiment having an invitation-and-acceptance method that accuratelyportrays the directionality of social-network orpersonal-communication-network links.

This invention further advances the art by providing a system thatenables direct searches of personal-communication-network data. Systemusers may obtain the information they need (while increasing thereliability familiarity of the information source) and reach moreaccurate conclusions as a result of the data reliability.

The social search engine provide by the present invention is distinctfrom prior-art search engines because present invention's social searchengine does not retrieve websites that match keywords, but provides thesocial-network or personal-communication-network members with who intheir network has access, knowledge, or experience with that informationrelating to the search. For example, if a physician were to type in“leukemia,” the social search engine would produce a list of physicianswho specialize in leukemia—either researchers who study the disease,oncologists or hematologists who treat it, or physicians who haveexperience with medications or chemotherapy. In other words, thephysician does not obtain a list of “specially ranked” websites byanonymous authors, but actually receives the names and profiles of otherphysicians (to whom they are linked) that may be considered experts onthe topic and how the searcher is connected to the physicians whopossess the information. Thus, a physician who is seeking informationabout leukemia is able to evaluate the information based on how he orshe is socially connected to the target physician or how the physiciannamed in the search is positioned within the searchers overall personalcommunication network.

The present invention further advances the art by usingpersonal-communication-network to map in real-time communicationnetworks, identifying opinion leaders, temporal changes in the network,the progression of communication through networks, and the impact ofmembers' roles on the rate of the diffusion. Such knowledge will allowfor the development of strategically targeted marketing campaigns orprotocol/policy dissemination to facilitate the diffusion of ideas orinnovations through targeted networks. More importantly, the presentinvention will allow entities to distinguish the unique characteristicsand roles each member of the network plays in facilitating the diffusionof information through a consumer, citizen, staff, or other network andto recognize the importance of delivering a message at the right time,to the right people.

DEFINITIONS

A personal-communication-network member is a person that is a node in apersonal communication network.

An opinion leader is a person that has an above-average ability toinfluence people in a field of interest.

A field of interest is an area of specialization.

Personal-communication-network data is any information related to orgenerated from a personal communication network. Nonlimiting examples ofpersonal-communication-network data include: electronic invitations tocurrent and/or new members of a personal-communication network, archivesof personal-communication-network communications, persons that arepersonal-communication-network members, a communication generated fromor directed to personal-communication-network member, apersonal-communication-network member's FAQ's data, archived searchterms generated by a personal-communication-network member, apersonal-communication-network member's field of interest, keywords usedby a personal-communication-network member, phrases used by apersonal-communication-network member, personal-communication-networkmember names, a personal-communication-network member's specialty orfield of interest, the context of a communication to or from apersonal-communication-network member a personal-communication-networkmember's geographic location, schools attended or general educationalbackground information of a personal-communication-network member, apersonal-communication-network member's graduation year, apersonal-communication-network member's work location or place ofbusiness, a personal-communication-network member's profession, apersonal-communication-network member's insurance information, apersonal-communication-network member's clinical interests, apersonal-communication-network member's research interests, apersonal-communication-network member's patients or clients, or anycombination thereof.

A personal communication network is a type of social network that isdirected to and based upon communication links between nodes. Acommunication link can generally be described as a link between a firstnode and a second node, wherein the communication link is established orbased upon the communication subject matter between the two nodes. Notethat the link is not based solely upon the fact that a first node knowsa second node, but instead the link is directed to a common field ofinterest between the first and second node. Further, a personalcommunication network is directed to identifying to whom apersonal-communication-network member talks to regarding a particularsubject or field of interest. Because a personal communication networkhas communication links that have been created based upon who a nodecommunicates with and seeks advice from or gives advice to regarding thecommon field of interest, personal communication networks are alsocommonly referred to as trust networks.

A common field of interest is a field of interest that is shared by twoor more people,

A person has a personal-communication-network membership when a personis a node in a personal communication network.

Keyword searching is a manner of searching that uses a string ofcharacters in the search term or search phrase.

A third-degree contact is a social-network member orpersonal-communication-network member that isthree-degrees-of-separation away from a specific member or node.

A second-degree contact is a social-network member orpersonal-communication-network member that is two-degrees-of-separationaway from a specific member or node.

A first-degree contact is a social-network member orpersonal-communication-network member that is one-degree-of-separationaway from a specific member or node.

Degrees of separation is a term that describes the relative position oftwo nodes in a social network. A second node is one degree of separationaway from a first node if the second node is directly linked to thefirst node; stated differently, a second node is one degree ofseparation away from a first node if there are no other network nodesintervening between the second node and the first node. Further, asecond node is two degrees of separation away from a first node if thereis exactly one network node intervening between the second node and thefirst node. Still further, a second node is three degrees of separationaway from a first node if there are exactly two network nodesintervening between the second node and first node. Yet further, asecond node is n degrees of separation away from a first node if thereare n-1 intervening network nodes between the second node and the firstnode.

A person's quantity of memberships in personal communication networksequals the number of times a person is identified as a node in one ormore personal communication networks.

A node is a person that is a member of a social network or personalcommunication network.

The frequency of communication describes the number of communicationsbetween two people or two nodes over a period of time.

Direction of communication is a term that describes who sent acommunication and who received the communication. The direction ofcommunication is from the sender of a communication to the recipient ofthe communication.

Innovativeness is a relative term that describes the degree to which anindividual is relatively earlier in adopting new ideas than otherindividuals that are members of a social system. Further, innovativenessis a characteristic that describes an individual's receptiveness inadopting a new innovation relative to other members of the population.Innovativeness depends upon many variables; and nonlimiting examples ofthose variables include risk-taking tendencies and knowledge ofinnovation. The levels of innovativeness (in decreasing order) are:innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, and laggards.Innovativeness can also describe an entity's receptiveness in adopting anew innovation relative to other entities. Nonlimiting examples of suchentities include a consumer, hospital, corporation, insurance company,medical practice, and the like.

A personal-communication-network invitation is an invitation thatinvites a person or invitee to become a member or node of a personalcommunication network.

The directionality of a link (or direction of a link) is a term thatdescribes a personal-communication-network link or social-network link.The directionality of a link is based upon identifying the person thatboth received and accepted a social-network invitation orpersonal-communication-network invitation from the sender of thesocial-network invitation or personal-communication-network invitation.The directionality or direction of a link is from the sender of theinvitation to the recipient/acceptor of the invitation. Stateddifferently, the directionality or direction of a link is from theinviter to the invitee, and upon accepting an invitation from theinvitor, the invitee becomes a member of the invitor's personalcommunication network or social network.

A link is a path or connection from one node to another node.

Unidirectional is a term that describes a link between a first node anda second node, wherein the first node has accepted apersonal-communication-network invitation from the second node, but thesecond node hasn't accepted a personal-communication-network invitationfrom the first node. In such a case, a link has been established onlybased upon the first node's acceptance of an invitation from the secondnode.

Bi-directional is a term that describes a link between a first node anda second node, wherein the first node has accepted apersonal-communication-network invitation from the second node, and thesecond node has accepted a personal-communication-network invitationfrom the first node. In such a case, a link has been established basedupon two invitations and acceptances of invitations: the first node'sacceptance of an invitation from the second node, and the second node'sacceptance of an invitation from the first node.

A personal-communication-network link is a link in apersonal-communication-network.

Reciprocal invitation is a return invitation that is sent from anoriginal recipient or invitee back to the original sender or inviter.

An invitation-and-acceptance process is a series of events that enablesa person to become a member of a social network or personalcommunication network.

Mapping is a term that can be used to describe the manner in which asocial network or personal communication network is visuallyillustrated.

A real-time online network is an online network that manipulates (e.g.records, analyzes, and presents) data in real time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustrated arrangement of a network for employing thesystem of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an illustrative display of an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is an illustrative display of an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is an illustrative display of an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is an illustrative display of an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is an illustrative display of an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is an example of arrangements on search results.

FIG. 8 is an illustrative relationship between members of apersonal-communication-network.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

This invention is generally directed to social-network analysis of apersonal communication network or personal communication networks. Anembodiment of the present invention provides a system for classifying atleast one personal communication-network member as an opinion leader ina field of interest based at least in part onpersonal-communication-network data.

The term user is used below to describe a personal-communication-networkmember or other authorized individual who is has been invited to join apersonal communication network by a personal-communication-networkmember and use the system of the present invention to communicate withother personal-communication-network members. Apersonal-communication-network member is used to describe an individualwho has previously joined a personal communication network and has saveda profile of himself/herself in a computer-accessible memory that can beaccessed to electronically store information to be used with the system.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a system for classifyingat least one personal-communication-network member as an opinion leaderin a field of interest based at least in part onpersonal-communication-network data. The system includes acomputer-accessible memory for storing computer-readable logic thatenables a central processing unit (“CPU”) to identify an opinion leaderwithin a field of interest. The CPU can be provided at the server, thecomputer terminal the user enters data, or any other computationaldevice. The identification of an individual as an opinion leader can bebased upon data generated from the person's participation or interactionwith the at least one personal communication network, such as theperson's discussion of a particular topic with another member of thatperson's personal communication network, or merely a membership in theat least one personal communication network.

As used herein, an opinion leader is a member of apersonal-communication network that has established direct communicationwith many other members of the network. Direct communication requiresthe two parties to be related by a single degree of separation. Beingseparated by only a single degree of separation, the opinion leader willbe a primary contact of many network members. The more members of thenetwork that have the opinion leader as a primary contact, the higherhis priority, rank, or reputation, as an opinion leader in that networkwill be. A predetermined number of primary contacts can be determinedand set as the threshold number of contacts required to be considered anopinion leader, or, opinion leaders can be selected based on the numberof network members they communicate directly relative to other networkmembers.

A single network member can be identified as the only opinion leader pernetwork, that network member having the most established contactsseparated by a single degree of separation in the particular network.Alternately, a plurality of network members can be selected as opinionleaders, the plurality of network members comprising the top x networkmembers in terms of the number of established contacts separated by asingle degree of separation in that network.

According to other embodiments of the present invention, an opinionleader or a plurality of opinion leaders can be selected based on thepercent of network members that have received one or more communicationsfrom the opinion leader(s). According to yet another embodiment, anopinion leader can be selected as such based on the overall number ofcontacts established, regardless of the particular network in whichthose contacts are established, quantity and direction of invitationslinking the opinion leader to other network members, initiation andoutcomes of searches conducted by opinion leaders and other members ofthe network.

An additional embodiment provides for identifying an opinion leaderusing personal-communication-network data that is based upon or relatedto an invitation-and-acceptance process. More specifically, thepersonal-communication-network data that is based upon or relates to aninvitation-and-acceptance process can be data relating to electronicinvitations to current or new members of a personal communicationnetwork.

A further embodiment provides for identifying an opinion leader usingpersonal-communication-network data that is based upon or related tosearch terms or phrases employed by a personal-communication-networkmember in conducting a search of personal-communication-network data.

Defined as above, an opinion leader is considered to be a network memberwhose opinions reach a large audience relative to the opinions of othermembers of that network. Typically, the opinion leader's comments havegrown to be well respected in a particular field over time due at leastin part to the knowledge, experience, or familiarity with the subjectmatter on which the opinion leader comments. This respect, in turn,motivates physicians or others seeking to gain knowledge about thissubject matter to invite the opinion leader to join their personalnetwork as a primary contact, separated by only one degree ofseparation. As the number of network members that list the opinionleader as a primary contact increases, so does the opinion leader'sprospective audience and therefore, his ability to influence theknowledge of those audience members.

The system for classifying at least one personal-communication-networkmember as an opinion leader can optionally identify, or otherwiseclassify at least one personal-communication-network member as anopinion leader in a field of interest based upon the quantity ofmemberships that the at least one personal-communication-network memberhas in personal communication networks, wherein all of the networks havethe field of interest in common. Thus, one or more opinion leaders canbe identified specifically for the particular field of interest.

Computer-readable logic can optionally be provided according to anembodiment of the present invention to identify or classify a person asan opinion leader within a field of interest based upon the quantity ofelectronic communications that the person has sent topersonal-communication-network members in the field of interest.Likewise, the one or more opinion leaders can be identified andclassified according to instructions within computer-readable logic thatclassifies a person as an opinion leader within a field of interestbased upon the quantity of electronic communications that the person hasreceived from personal-communication-network members in the field ofinterest. Alternate embodiments consider a combined number of sent andreceived electronic communications to identify an opinion leader. Otherfactors, such as the direction and quantity of invitations orconnections between nodes, frequency of communication between nodes, thenumber of words in a communication between nodes, the direction ofcommunication between nodes, the number of key words in a communicationbetween nodes, the search terms and results generated by the nodes, andcombinations thereof, for example, can also be used in addition to, orin lieu Of, any other factor mentioned above.

An alternate embodiment of the present invention provides a system forassessing a person's likelihood to use a concept or product that is newto the person. The system includes computer-readable logic forclassifying a person's innovativeness based upon the quantity ofpersonal-communication-network invitations the person has received froma personal-communication-network member.

A network member considered to be an innovator, as that term is usedherein, is a network member who is more likely to adopt, or otherwiseadapt his practice to include a novel technology, treatment, therapeuticagent, ideology, or other advance (collectively referred to as a “recentdevelopment”) than other network members who are not innovators. Similarto the description above for identifying an opinion leader, an innovatorcan be selected as the network member who is likely to be the first toadopt a recent development, or as the top y network members who arelikely to be the first y people to adopt the recent development.Alternately, the innovator(s) of a particular network can be identifiedas the z % of network members who are likely to adopt a recentdevelopment within a predetermined timeframe. These are but a fewexamples of the many possible ways to identify the innovator(s) of anetwork, and should not be considered an exhaustive listing of allpossibilities.

Any factor that tends to indicate a network member's likelihood to adoptor otherwise utilize a given recent development can be used to identifythe innovator(s) of that network. Nonlimiting examples of such factorsinclude: the time between a similar recent development's introduction tothe market and a time when the network member adopted the similar recentdevelopment; the network member's participation in experimental studies;the length of time required for the person to respond to apersonal-communication-network invitation; the duration a prescriptionswritten by network members; the number of invitations sent to apotential user/member; publications by the network member discussingefforts to develop the recent development; anticipation of the recentdevelopment; opinions expressed by opinion leader(s); or opinions byother network members respected by the network member. Any of thefactors chosen to identify the innovator(s) of a network can be suitablyweighted to fine tune the algorithm used to quantify the degree ofinnovativeness used to identify innovators.

As mentioned above, innovators can be classified based upon the numberof invitations sent to a potential user/member, wherein the invitationsare directed to the invitee joining a social network or more preferably,a personal communication network. Some individuals may require only oneinvitation to convince them to join—these are the innovators. Others mayrequire up to ten or fifteen invitations from current users beforedeciding to join—these are the laggards. Innovativeness classificationscan be used in marketing campaigns in which innovators can be targetedfirst, then early adopters, early majority, late majority, and laggards(innovators being the most innovative and laggards being the leastinnovative).

In one embodiment for classifying a person's innovativeness, aninnovativeness classification is needed by using computer-readable logicthat employs a function that is based uponpersonal-communication-network data in combination with a statisticaldiffusion curve and innovativeness classifications (as defined bydiffusion researchers). In one embodiment, the statistical diffusioncurve is an s-shaped curve that plots the percentage of a populationthat has adopted an innovation over time. In theory (and as verified bydata), once the percent of population adopting an innovation hitsroughly 20%, the rate of adopting rapidly increases, and then tapers offas the percent of population adopting the innovation hits about 80%.

It is common for opinion leaders to also be considered innovatorsbecause of the personality traits common amongst authoritative figuresin a particular field and innovators in that same field. Accordingly,whether a network member is considered to be an opinion leader canoptionally be a factor used to determine whether that network member isalso an innovator.

In addition to the above, at least one embodiment of this inventionprovides for searching personal-communication-network data that is inthe form of electronic or electronically searchable communicationsbetween personal-communication-network members. An embodiment thatemploys the search method provides computer-readable logic fordetermining or identifying the use of one or more words or phrases in acommunication or communications between twopersonal-communication-network members. Computer-readable logic can beused to search for a string of characters within one or more databasesof recorded electronic or electronically searchable communication(s)from one personal-communication-network member to another. Thecomputer-readable logic searches the personal-communication-networkcommunications and quantifies or qualifies the use of at least onestring of characters, e.g., word or phrase, within the communications.

An additional embodiment of this invention provides for usingcomputer-readable logic to search personal-communication-network datathat is in the form of electronic or electronically searchablecommunications between personal-communication-network members or nodes.A use of such an embodiment can be directed to identifying a topic ofdiscussion or common field of interest between two or morepersonal-communication-network members. This embodiment provides forusing computer-readable logic to search one or more databases ofrecorded electronic or electronically searchable communication(s)between personal-communication-network communications for words orphrases associated with a search term or search phrase. Thecomputer-readable logic identifies the words or phrases relating to afield of interest and can thereby identify a topic of discussion orfield of interest in a particular communication or communications.

In an embodiment of the invention, personal-communication-network datain any known form of communication can be subject to SNA viacomputer-readable logic. In a further embodiment,personal-communication-network data in any known form of electronic orelectronically-searchable communication can be subject to SNA viacomputer-readable logic. Nonlimiting examples of useful forms of knownelectronic or electronically-searchable communications include:electronic mail (email), chat, online chat, and discussion boards.

Further, regarding the above-mentioned communication between nodes,another embodiment uses computer-readable logic to identify and definecommunication contexts among personal-communication-network users.Stated differently, the embodiment identifies one or more topics ofdiscussion within a communication between two nodes. The communicationcontexts will most likely be dependent upon the audience and networkboundary. In an example relating to the medical domain, nonlimitingexamples of communication contexts or general topics of discussioninclude: medicine, pediatrics, aerospace medicine, diagnosis andtreatment, pharmacology, asthma, allergy and immunology, anesthesiology,colon and rectal surgery, dermatology, emergency medicine, familypractice, general preventive medicine, internal medicine, critical caremedicine, medical genetics, neurology, physical medicine andrehabilitation, preventive medicine, psychiatry, molecular geneticpathology, neurological surgery, diagnostic radiology, neuroradiology,nuclear medicine, obstetrics, gynecology, occupational medicine,ophthalmology, orthopaedic surgery, otolaryngology, pathology-anatomicand clinical pediatrics, plastic surgery, preventive medicine, publichealth, radiation oncology, radiology-diagnostic surgery, thoracicsurgery, urology, abdominal radiology, addiction psychiatry, adolescentmedicine, adult reconstructive orthopaedics, blood banking/transfusionmedicine, cardiothoracic radiology, cardiovascular disease, chemicalpathology, child neurology, clinical cardiac electrophysiology, clinicalneurophysiology, clinical and laboratory immunology, craniofacialsurgery, critical care medicine, cytopathology, dermatopathology,developmental-behavioral pediatrics, endovascular surgicalneuroradiology, foot and ankle orthopaedics, forensic pathology,forensic psychiatry, gastroenterology, geriatric medicine, geriatricpsychiatry, hand surgery, hematology, oncology, infectious disease,interventional cardiology, medical microbiology, medical toxicology,musculoskeletal oncology, musculoskeletal radiology, neonatal-perinatalmedicine, nephrology, neurodevelopmental disabilities, neuropathology,neuroradiology, neurotology, nuclear radiology, oncology, orthopaedicsports medicine, orthopaedic surgery of the spine, orthopaedic trauma,pain medicine, pediatric anesthesiology, pediatric cardiology, pediatriccritical care medicine, pediatric emergency medicine, pediatricemergency medicine, pediatric endocrinology, pediatric gastroenterology,pediatric hematology/oncology, pediatric infectious diseases, pediatricnephrology, pediatric orthopaedics, pediatric otolaryngology, pediatricpathology, pediatric pulmonology, pediatric radiology, pediatricrehabilitation medicine, pediatric rheumatology, pediatric sportsmedicine, pediatric surgery, pediatric urology, procedural dermatology,pulmonary disease, rheumatology, selective pathology, spinal cordinjury, sports medicine, surgical critical care, undersea and hyperbaricmedicine, vascular neurology, vascular surgery, vascular andinterventional radiology, or a combination thereof.

In another embodiment for using computer-readable logic to identify anddefine communication contexts or general topics of discussion amongpersonal-communication-network users, employable communication contextscan include any or all fields of interest. For example, if the networkinvolves consumers, and a user or member wants to know what socialnetwork or personal-communication-network members are “opinion leaders”on the topic of cars (i.e. who do most consumers consult before buying acar), then one communication context should be for example“automotives.” Additional nonlimiting examples of general communicationcontexts, topics of discussion, or fields of interest include: medicine,sports, science, performing arts, mathematics, literature,pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, health sciences, nursing, automotive,social work, dentistry, occupational therapy, physical therapy,rehabilitation counseling, gerontology, health administration,optometry, veterinary medicine, natural sciences, biology, chemistry,physics, forensic science, political science, history, anatomy,biostatistics, physiology, social sciences, philosophy, psychology,sociology, anthropology, education, research, mental health,psychotherapy, health, fitness/exercise, nutrition/diet,athletics/sports, games, hobbies, therapy, engineering, statistics,literature, politics, local government, state government, federalgovernment, advocacy, law, law enforcement, private investigation,military science, journalism, mass communications, consulting, projectmanagement, contracting, architecture, religion, spirituality, culture,fine arts, performing arts, art history, dance and choreography, fashiondesign, interior design, painting, photography, filmmaking, sculpture,theatre, music, martial arts, crafts, entertainment, food, technology,information systems, electronics, business, marketing, management,accounting, economics, finance, entrepreneurship, automotive, realestate, home ownership, insurance, home furnishings, manufacturing,shipping, retail, beauty, fashion, environmental science, nature,animals, pets, botany, agriculture, security, aviation, travel or acombination thereof.

Still another embodiment provides for evaluating a relationship betweentwo personal-communication-network members wherein computer-readablelogic searches one or more databases of personal-communication-networkdata, including communications between thepersonal-communication-network members and performs one or all of thefollowing: quantify the number of communications between the members,determine the frequency of electronic communication between the members(frequency can be described in terms of the dimension-number ofcommunications per unit time), recording the number of words in anelectronic communication between the members, recording the direction ofcommunication between the members, recording the use of keywords in anelectronic communication between the members, or a combination thereof.

The present invention further includes a “social search engine” thatallows social-network or personal-communication-network members tosearch within their networks for other personal communication members ornodes that have access to information that they are seeking. The searchcomponent of the embodiment includes computer-readable logic thatperforms the function of a filtering mechanism, whereby a network memberperforming a search can use the social search engine's computer-readablelogic to search her social network or personal communication network formembers that have or are likely to have information of the searchedsubject. In a further embodiment, all of the search-string informationinput by a member conducting a search is stored in a searchable databaseand thereby adds to the personal-communication-network data generated bythe member. This may be helpful because it may be beneficial to knowwhat search terms or phrases are most often used by that or othernetwork members.

In one embodiment for searching personal-communication-network data, thesearch can be directed to a field of interest or characteristics ofpersonal-communication-network members. The search can be as general as“automotives,” or as specific as “females between the ages of 12 and14.” A nonlimiting list of other potentially searchable topics include:behaviors, needs, desires, trends, and norms.

This invention also provides for using computer-readable logic thatsearches personal-communication-network data for multiple terms orphrases by initiating the search with a single search term. In otherwords, an embodiment is directed to using a single term or phrase toinitiate a multi-term search of personal-communication-network data.Computer-readable logic initiates a multi-term search of thepersonal-communication-network data by first identifying one or moreterms or phrases that will be searched in addition to the single searchterm or phrase that was entered by a user. The computer-readable logicdoes this by associating the single search term or phrase with apredetermined set of additional search terms or search phrases that havebeen preselected to be search in addition to the single search term orphrase. The computer-readable logic then applies both the single searchterm or phrase and the predetermined set of additional search terms orsearch phrases in a search of one or more databases ofpersonal-communication-network data.

Additionally, if a search term or search phrase used in apersonal-communication-network data search does not literally match anyterms or phrases in the personal-communication-network data, the presentinvention has provided computer-readable logic for matching specificconditions, treatments, pharmaceutical drugs, and medical specialties toselected search terms and phrases. Therefore, computer-readable logicwill search for at least one predetermined search term or phase that hasbeen associated with the initial search term or phrase. And althoughthere may be no literal match to the initial search term, meaningfulsearch results can still be generated based upon the social searchengine's computer-readable logic searching for additional related termsor phrases.

An embodiment of the invention also provides for a method directed toestablishing a social-network or personal-communication-network linkbetween two people. The invitation-and-acceptance method is directed tosending a social-network or personal-communication-network invitationfrom a personal-communication-network member, i.e. an inviter, to aninvitee. An embodiment of the invitation is directed to making theinvitee a member of the inviter's social network or personalcommunication network. The invitation is not limited to any particularform, but in an embodiment, the invitation is an electronic invitationsuch as an email. The invitation embodiment has the inviter describe acommon field (or fields) of interest between the inviter and invitee.Stated differently, the inviter indicates at least one subject or fieldof interest that the inviter would like to communicate about with theinvitee.

In a further embodiment of the invitation-and-acceptance method, theinvitee is provided with an opportunity to send a reciprocal invitationto the original inviter, wherein the original inviter is invited intothe invitee's social network or personal communication network.

Another embodiment of the invitation-and-acceptance method also providesfor defining the directionality of a link between nodes in apersonal-communication-network based upon an indication of whether anoriginal inviter wants to be a member of an original invitee's personalcommunication network. A social-network orpersonal-communication-network invitation method generally involvessending a social network or personal-communication-network invitationfrom one person to another person, i.e., from and inviter to an invitee.And generally, if the invitee accepts the invitation, then the inviteebecomes a member of the inviter's social or personal communicationnetwork, and thus a unidirectional link is established—from the inviterto the invitee.

An embodiment of this invention provides for automatically providing theperson that is sending a social network orpersonal-communication-network invitation with an option to accept areciprocal invitation from the invitee, should the invitee choose tosend a reciprocal invitation. In other words, an original inviter isprovided with a means to accept in advance a reciprocal invitation fromthe invitee, if the invitee should decide to send a reciprocalinvitation.

To promote meaningful links between people having a common field ofinterest, an embodiment of the invention provides for a system thathelps personal-communication-network members construct meaningful trustnetworks by providing explicit instructions for aninvitation-and-acceptance process used to construct a personalcommunication network. The system uses computer-readable logic toprovide a user with conditions for inviting a person into the user'spersonal communication network. As a nonlimiting example of instructionsrelating to a personal communication network directed to the medicalfield, the instructions might read, “Who to invite: Invite colleagueswhose opinions you value and often solicit when making medical decisionsor considering alternative treatments. This network should includephysicians you trust to provide reliable information or advice regardingmedical treatments, practices, and advances for the professionalservices you provide. If you highly value the opinions, judgments,advice, or interpretations of a physician, you should invite them intoyour trust network. What can learn: Information is only as good as thesource that delivers it. Building this network can help you manage yourcurrent contacts—the physicians you trust and know directly—as well ashelp you identify the trusted sources of your trusted colleagues. Expandyour opinion network to obtain volumes of valued opinions and reliableinformation from your colleagues, colleagues' colleagues, or colleagues'colleagues' colleagues.” The system has computer-readable logic thatwill enable the invitation-and-acceptance instructions to be provided toan inviter that is sending an invitation. These instructions help toensure that data obtained through personal-communication-network linksare meaningful. As a result, a user can be certain that physicians inhis personal-communication-network trust each other for valued opinionsand advice.

In an embodiment of the invitation-and-acceptance method, apersonal-communication-network member (original inviter) sends aninvitation, which can be an electronic invitation, to an individual(original invitee). The individual may or may not be a member of apersonal communication network, and the invitation invites the inviteeinto the inviter's personal communication network. In composing aninvitation contemplated by this invention, the original inviter mustindicate in advance whether, should the inviter receive a reciprocalinvitation into the invitee's trust network, the member would accept ordecline such an invitation.

The system has computer-readable logic for determining whether aninvitee is a current member of a personal communication network; if yes,then in one embodiment an invitation is sent to the invitee's systememail address. A system email address is an email address provided bythe system to a personal-communication-network member. If the invitee isnot a personal-communication-network member, ten the invitation is sentto an email address external to the system. Once the invitee reads theemail, she must decide whether to accept or decline the invitation.Should she choose to accept, she must indicate whether she wishes tosend a reciprocal invitation to the original inviter. If she chooses tosend a reciprocal invitation to the original inviter, the system hascomputer-readable logic that checks for the original inviter's advanceindication for either accepting or declining a reciprocal invitation.

In an embodiment of the invention, if an original inviter has indicatedin advance that they would accept a reciprocal invitation from anoriginal invitee, and the original invitee has both accepted theoriginal invitation and sent a reciprocal invitation, then thecomputer-readable logic establishes a bi-directional link. If anoriginal inviter has indicated in advance that they would accept areciprocal invitation from an original invitee, but the original inviteehas only accepted the original invitation and chosen not to send areciprocal invitation, then the computer-readable logic establishes aunidirectional link from the original inviter to the original invitee.If an original inviter has indicated that they would not accept areciprocal invitation from an original invitee, and the original inviteeaccepts the original invitation, then the computer-readable logicestablishes a unidirectional link from the original inviter to theoriginal invitee.

The invitation-and-acceptance process affords several opportunities forcollecting and storing directional information and confirmation, andsuch information has implications for searches performed by the membersvia the site. As a nonlimiting example, if a receiving physician (e.g.Dr. Smith) accepts and invitation from an inviter physician (e.g. Dr.Jones), then the system stores this link as one from Dr. Jones to Dr.Smith. Furthermore, Dr. Smith becomes a member of Dr. Jones' trustnetwork, and Dr. Jones obtains access to Dr. Smith'spersonal-communication-network data and to the members of Dr. Smith'spersonal communication network. Likewise, if the receiving physician(Dr. Smith) reciprocates the invitation and the sending physician (Dr.Jones) accepts, then the system stores a second link from Dr. Smith toDr. Jones, indicating that Dr. Jones is a part of Dr. Smith's trustnetwork as well. Further, Dr. Jones becomes a member of Dr. Smith'strust network, and Dr. Smith obtains access to Dr. Jones'personal-communication-network data and to the members of Dr. Jones'personal communication network.

In the event that a physician declines an invitation, a link is notestablished, and—although the system stores all invitations anddecisions—trust networks usually reflect the convention that a receivingphysician that accepts an invitation becomes a part of a sendingphysician's trust network.

Physicians may have several different sources of advice and information,which they may or may not approach based upon the topic at hand. Suchtopics may include diagnostic information, treatment recommendations,pharmaceuticals, legal or ethical advice, and the like. Physicians whoare respected advisors in terms of diagnoses may not be the bestphysician to question regarding the latest technological innovations.Therefore, the present invention requires physicians to indicate thetopic(s) about which they consult the physician they wish to invite. Anembodiment of the present invention implements this idea by way of thenonlimiting example: Individual to Invite: First Name: Last Name: Typeof Practitioner (MD, DO): Email Address: I consult this physicianregarding the following: (check all that apply)    Pharmacological   Practice Management    Diagnostic    Technology    Policy   Procedure    Ethics    Research    Legal

The consultation topics checked may also be used as a measurement oftrust. For example, if Dr. Gardner indicates that she consults Dr.Harris regarding two topics, but she consults Dr. Johnson regardingfive, then it can be inferred that Dr. Gardner trusts Dr. Johnson morethan Dr. Harris. More importantly, encouraging physicians to indicatethe context of their communication with each physician provides a richand useful database.

A further embodiment of the invention is directed to the manner in whichsocial-search-engine search results are presented. In other words, thefurther embodiment is directed to presenting: 1)personal-communication-network members identified by thepersonal-communication-network data search; and 2) how the members arelinked to the personal-communication-network member performing thesearch. In an embodiment, the search results are presented in a mannerwherein at least one personal-communication-network member is named in asearch result, and at least one network path is presented that displaysa link or series of links that show how thepersonal-communication-network member performing the search is linked tothe at least one personal-communication-network member identified by thesearch. The network path can be a visual depiction of a path from onemember to another member; links between nodes are conventionallyillustrated by strait lines, and nodes are conventionally illustrated bydots or circles.

Still another embodiment of the invention is directed to the manner inwhich social-search-engine search results are presented. Morespecifically, the embodiment presents: 1) personal-communication-networkcommunications identified by the personal-communication-network datasearch; and 2) how the personal-communication-network members thatgenerated the communications are linked to thepersonal-communication-network member performing the search. In otherwords, the presentation of the social-search engine results displays theboth the communications and their source in a visual manner. Asmentioned above, the visual manner of presentation is a depiction of apath from one member to another member; links between nodes areconventionally illustrated by strait lines, and nodes are conventionallyillustrated by dots or circles.

The present invention will allow personal-communication-network membersto analyze personal-communication-network data to obtain search resultssuch as: degrees (the number of direct connections or first-degreecontacts a personal-communication-network member has), betweenness(represents a bridge between two cliques or clusters in a personcommunication network), closeness (a measurement of how close a personis to everyone else in the network), boundary spanners (have access toideas and information flowing in other clusters—innovators), peripheralplayers (often connected to networks that are not currently mapped),structural equivalence (determine which people play similar roles in thenetwork), cluster analysis (find cliques and other densely connectedclusters), structural holes (find areas of no connection between peoplethat could be used for advantage or opportunity), and E/I Ratio (findwhich groups in the network are open or closed to other).Personal-communication-network members may also find other statisticsuseful that are particular to their field of interest. As a nonlimitingexample, the present invention provides analyses of the percentage of aphysician's personal-communication-network using a particular treatmentand “distance to X,” which allows the physician to determine theshortest path to a target member in the physician's personalcommunication network.

An embodiment of the invention searches personal-communication-networkdata using computer-readable logic that employs mathematical algorithmsto determine the order of presentation of search results. Suchalgorithms take into account keywords entered into eachpersonal-communication-network member's profile, field(s) of interest,the likelihood that the target member is the best person to answer thequestion (based upon personal-communication-network data specific to thetarget member), degrees of separation from the member conducting thesearch (degrees or links away), similarity to the searching member(based upon attributes listed in the profiles), physical proximity, andother personal-communication-network data (such aspersonal-communication-network communications).

Moreover, the search results present the path betweenpersonal-communication-network members, e.g., from thepersonal-communication-network member entering the search terms to thepersonal-communication-network members identified by the search, whichincludes all members in the shortest number of links. Therefore, themember performing the search learns who has the information they seek,the personal-communication-network profile of a member or membersrevealed by the search, and how the members revealed by the search areconnected to the member conducting the search.

In an embodiment, social engine search results are presented in aninnovative, clear, and tabular manner. The social search engine presentsresults by clearly denoting who in a member'spersonal-communication-network has the information being sought and howthe searcher is connected to the members revealed by the search. In anembodiment, the columns represent degrees or links between the searchingmember and the network members revealed by the search. In yet anotherembodiment, the rows illustrate the relational paths from the searchingmember to the member(s) revealed by the search. In a further embodiment,highlighted names indicate a personal-communication-network memberhaving the information sought. In another embodiment, the searchingmember's personal-communication-network profile is shown on the leftpanel of the results table, and the profile of apersonal-communication-network member revealed by the search can beviewed in the right panel by clicking his or her name.

Should the attributes of the personal-communication-network members beof interest, then a personal profile page may be added to the system. Inthis case, members can input various information about themselves (e.g.fields of interest).

A further embodiment of the invention provides apersonal-communication-network member with the ability to organizepersonal-communication-network communications by providing andelectronic means for archiving personal-communication-networkcommunications into a personal-communication-network database. Thedatabase in turn is searchable by personal-communication-networkmembers, wherein the member performing the archiving designates asearchable term to be associated with the personal-communication-networkarchive or communication. Upon associating the search term with thepersonal-communication-network archive or communication, a keywordsearch of personal-communication-network data that uses the searchableterm will return a search result that identifies thepersonal-communication-network archive or communication.

A further embodiment of the invention provides for computer-readablelogic that organizes personal-communication-network invitations to emailaddress provided by the invention. In an embodiment, computer-readablelogic identifies whether an invitee of a personal-communication-networkinvitation is a personal-communication-network member. And if theinvitee is a personal-communication-network member, then thecomputer-readable logic directs an invitation to apersonal-communication-network electronic mailbox (e-mailbox) providedby the invention. Stated differently, if an invitee is apersonal-communication-network member and receives an invitation fromanother personal-communication-network member, then that invitation isautomatically directed or redirected by the computer-readable logic toan e-mailbox provided by the inventive embodiment.

In an embodiment, the invention does not overwritepersonal-communication-network data so as to monitor/record changes inthe personal-communication-network data over time. Changes to thenetwork data are preferably stored as new entries in a database, so allentries and revisions are saved in the database, and this database isaccessible for personal-communication-network data analyses and thelike. Methods of storing electronic data via computers, software,databases, servers, and the like are known and relatively common. In anembodiment of this invention, relational databases that are connected tomultiple servers or server farms can be employed to storepersonal-communication-network data.

In an embodiment, the present invention allows for the collection ofreal-time data. Because an embodiment of the invention provides a systemhaving a server database that stores all information as new—and does notoverwrite outdated data—changes in personal communication networks willbe stored and traceable so that the dynamic and flexiblepersonal-communication-network data can be analyzed for changes overtime. As an example, such changes may include additional links asphysicians invite new physicians, forge new friendships, link tophysicians they meet via a website, at conferences, or new contacts whenthey move. Moreover, the database will reflect the deletion or removalof ties when physicians indicate that a relationship or link no longerexists (for reasons such as moves, death, a “falling-out,” etc.).

In an embodiment, personal information (or network-profile information)can be verified before a person becomes a personal-communication-networkmember. For example, if the target members of a personal communicationnetwork are an exclusive group (i.e. physicians, attorneys, collegestudents, etc.), then the invention may require a verification process,wherein a person's information is verified before the person can becomea personal-communication-network member. This will not only put theusers at ease, but will also ensure the integrity of the collected data.For example, if the social network of attorneys is desired, it isimportant to ensure that only the network of attorneys is captured, andnot the relationships between attorneys, their clients, and theirsecretaries, etc.

Another embodiment of the invention provides a server withcomputer-readable logic for mapping personal-communication-network pathsor links with specificity. In an embodiment, the invention maps two ormore personal-communication-network paths or links. In anotherembodiment, the invention maps three or morepersonal-communication-network paths or links. In another embodiment,the invention maps four or more personal-communication-network paths orlinks. In yet another embodiment, the invention maps five or morepersonal-communication-network paths or links. In still anotherembodiment, the invention maps a plurality ofpersonal-communication-network paths or links. Pragmatically,personal-communication-network members may want to know all paths thatlead from them to a target member for various reasons. Perhaps they haverecently spoken to the member who serves as the link in one path, orthey prefer to utilize a particular member as a link over another forprestige, or one member is on vacation and therefore cannot serve as aliaison. Whatever the reason behind the desire to see multiple paths,the present invention recognizes and satisfies this desire. Sometimesone direct route is all that is needed, but it may be preferable to haveoptions.

In addition to being invited into a personal communication network, auser can elect to register as the start (or seed) of a new personalcommunication network that will initially only include that user. In anembodiment, before a user is permitted to register as a newpersonal-communication-network member, a verification process canoptionally be conducted to ensure that the user attempting to registeris actually interested or involved in a field of interest. For example,a physician may be verified to be board-certified and duly authorized topractice medicine. According to this physician example, to initiate anew personal communication network, and therefore become a physicianwithin a personal communication network, the user can enter anappropriate URL into an address line of a web-browser displayed by aremote computer terminal in a known manner. Upon accessing the systemfor the first time, computer-readable logic causes anew-user-registration option to be displayed to the user. To minimizethe number of unauthorized users that can use the system forunscrupulous purposes, users must register by creating a profile ofthemselves before they are able to login in and conduct a search or takeadvantage of other features of the system. The information entered bythe user can be used to confirm the user's status as a licensedphysician or other authorized user of the system. Returning users thathave already completed their profile can skip the new-user registrationstep by electing to log in instead. Use of the system following a log-inprocedure or after receiving an invitation to join is described indetail below.

In use, an embodiment of the system of the present invention can beaccessed by a user by entering an appropriate URL into an address lineof a web-browser displayed by a remote computer terminal in a knownmanner. Upon being invited to join a personal communication network by apersonal-communication-network member, a user receives an email with ahyperlink to permit the user to access the system for the first time.Executing the hyperlink causes the display of a new-user-registrationinterface generated by computer-readable logic. To minimize the numberof unauthorized users that can use the system for unscrupulous purposes,even invited users must register by creating a profile of themselvesbefore they are able to login and conduct a search or take advantage ofother features of the system. Returning users that have alreadycompleted their profile can skip the new-user registration step byelecting to log in instead.

After the invited user has created a profile and logged in,computer-readable instructions cause a home page to be displayed so theuser can select from a plurality of options presented as tabs locatedalong an upper portion of the home page. Examples of the optionsavailable to logged-in users as shown in FIG. 3 include Home, Search,Message Center, Invitations, Settings, and Help. FIG. 3 is merely anexample of the system options that can be provided, but the system ofthe present invention must offer at least the Search option.

Once a user has generated his/her profile, the user can extendinvitations to other registered personal-communication-network membersto join the user's personal communication network, and use the Searchoption to locate personal-communication-network members already in theuser's personal communication network and commence communications withthose personal-communication-network members that satisfy theuser-defined search criteria.

Extending an invitation to join the user's personal communicationnetwork can be accomplished by selecting the Invitations tab, whichcauses an Invitation screen generated by computer-readable logic to bedisplayed by the monitor as shown in FIG. 3. An invitation to join apersonal communication network by selecting the Invitations tab can besent by entering an email address, contact name, or other informationidentifying the person or user to be invited into an invitation field,Selecting an Invite button causes the system to convey an invitation viaemail or other electronic communication to join the user's personalcommunication network to the invitee who is identified in the invitationfield.

For the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the email address is entered in theinvitation field and the Invite button selected. As an example, toillustrate the present invention, the fictitious name and email addressof Dr. Steve Johnson at Fake Hospital is used. The detailed display ofFIG. 4 generated according to the instructions in the computer-readablelogic allows the user to specify the context in which the user willconsult with the other physician to be invited into the user's personalcommunication network. For example, the detailed-invitation screen shownin FIG. 4 allows the user to select one or more of the followingconsultation contexts: Diagnostic, Treatment, Pharmacological, Research,Education, and Practice Management. Any number of these contexts can beeliminated, replaced with other contexts not specifically recitedherein, or supplemented by other contexts without departing from thescope of the present invention.

To assist the user in selecting a proper context for consultation, theuser can view a description of each context by selecting such an optionwith an electronic pointing device such as a conventional mouse ortrackball. In FIG. 4, the (description) option positioned adjacent tothe context for which additional information is sought can be selectedto view the additional information.

When the user is specifying the context in which he/she will consultwith the person or user to be invited, the user can also select whethera reciprocal invitation will automatically be accepted, should theinvited person or user elect to send one. A selection whether to acceptany reciprocal invitation can be made by choosing the check box, or byany other suitable indicia of the user's desire to automatically acceptany reciprocal invitation to join the personal-communication network ofthe invited person or user. And just as before, the user can specify theareas in which the user feels comfortable rendering advice or generallycommunicating.

Sending an invitation to an invitee to join a user's personalcommunication network, and the entire network in general, is an attemptto include that invitee in the personal communication network of theuser in the one or more contexts specified by the user. The invitee willbe the recipient of an email, or other electronically-originatedcommunication informing the invitee of the existence of the invitation.Other embodiments of the present invention include computer-readablelogic that generates a visual notice, audible notice, or a combinedvisual and audible notice to alert the invitee to the existence of theinvitation when the invitee logs onto the system. As shown in FIG. 3, aninvitation table of received invitations is generated according toinstructions contained in computer-readable logic of the presentinvention to list recent invitations, a subject, date of invitation, andstatus of the invitation. Status symbols such as Accepted, Rejected,Accepted and Reciprocated, Pending, and others can be used to indicatethe status of an invitation. Other fields can be included in theinvitation table, such as the user-selected context, and the like.Further, computer-readable logic can also be included in the presentinvention to generate a sent-invitation table to tabulate recentinvitations extended by the user, and the status of those invitations.

Upon receiving notice of the invitation's existence via email, forexample, computer-readable logic included as part of the system presentsthe invitee with a hyperlink to a response page, where the invitee ispresented with a plurality of optional responses as shown in FIG. 5. Inthe embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the invitee can accept and send areciprocal invitation, accept without sending a reciprocal invitation,and decline the invitation to join the user's personal communicationnetwork.

If the invitee accepts the invitation, a direct communication link isestablished between the user and the invite, meaning that the inviteehas joined the user's personal communication network, and that theinvitee is now a first-degree contact or is separated from the user byonly one degree of separation. The user's first-degree contacts arestored electronically in a computer accessible memory provided to aserver, for example. Additionally, the invitee has become a member ofthe user's personal communication network and is thereby linked to allof the nodes in the user's personal communication network. It will beappreciated that the nodes in the user's personal communication networkwill be two or more degrees of separation away from the invitee once theinvitee has accepted an invitation from the user. As a member of theuser's personal communication network, the invitee can search orestablish communications with other members of the user's personalcommunication network via the invitee's link through the user.

The fact that the invitee has accepted the invitation to become afirst-degree contact of the user does not necessarily mean that the userhas become a first-degree contact of the invitee. Whether the userbecomes a first-degree contact of the invitee is a consequence of thedirection of the communication link. For example, in the scenario wherethe invitee accepts the user's original invitation and declines to offera reciprocal invitation to the user, the communication link is said tobe unidirectional from the user to the invite. In this case, the inviteeis a first-degree contact of the user, but the user is not afirst-degree contact of the invitee.

If the user sent an invitation to the invitee, the invitee accepted theinvitation and extended a reciprocal invitation to the user, the usercan accept the reciprocal invitation in much the same way as the inviteehas to become a first-degree contact of the user. The user's acceptancecan be automatic if the user selected the automatic acceptance optionshown in FIG. 4, or the user can manually accept such a reciprocalinvitation. In this scenario, the communication link between the userand the invitee is a bidirectional communication link, meaning that theuser and the invitee are first-degree contacts of each other and consultwith each other in the specified contexts.

Finally, the invitee can decline the invitation from the user, therebynot becoming a first-degree contact of the user. If this occurs,computer-readable logic will generate and send a response indicating theinvitee's desire to decline the invitation. The invitee's response canoptionally include a personal statement issued by the invitee indicatinghis/her reasons for declining the invitation.

The process of inviting and receiving invitations from others to bringpersons or users into the systems entire inventory of personalcommunication networks (the entire inventory being described as a globalnetwork) and establish first-degree contacts is a continuous process. Asa nonlimiting example, invitations to join a personal-communicationnetwork will typically be extended to registered physicians as thoseextending the invitations encounter medical-related issues with whichthe invited physicians have experience. Once a physician has accepted aninvitation to join a personal communication network, the physician cansearch for members of that personal communication network to engage withrespect to a particular matter, as well as for members of other personalcommunication networks that are linked by a chain of communication.

A chain of communication is a communication path that has anuninterrupted path from one node to another in a user-specified context.As shown in FIG. 3, example (I) is a chain of communication between NodeA and Node C that includes Node B therebetween. This means that Node Acan establish communication with Node C using Node B as an introduction,or by merely explaining to Node C that Node A is a contact of Node B.And Node A can form a preliminary opinion about Node C based on whatNode A already knows about Node B. If Node B is a very astute individualthat exercises great discretion in establishing first degree contacts,Node A can assume that Node C is a reasonably-reliable contact.

Further, example (II) is a four-node chain of communication thatincludes Nodes A, B, C and D. Node A can establish communication withNode D through Nodes B and C. This does not require Node A tocommunicate first with Node B, followed by Node B communicating withNode C, and finally Node C communicating with Node D. Instead, Node Acan communicate directly with any node, including Node D, in an attemptto establish a dialogue with Node D. As mentioned above, Node A can getan idea of the character of Node C by examining the nodes that standbetween Node A and Node D.

Referring again to example (II), Nodes B, C and D are all considered tobe in the personal communication network of Node A. Generally, each ofNodes A, B, C and D are considered to be in each other's personalcommunication network. In fact, any node that a user can establishcommunications with via an uninterrupted chain of communication isconsidered to be in the personal communication network of the base node.Note that for a node to be considered within the personal communicationnetwork of the user, communications can be established with any numberof degrees separating the node from the user. However, the user canelect to display only those possible contacts that are within apredetermined degree of separation from the user. Other criteria canalso be used to limit the number of nodes that are displayed in responseto a search using the system of the present invention.

In one embodiment, each time a first-degree contact is added to theuser's contact list, this increases the user's status as an opinionleader. The system includes computer-readable logic that identifies oneor more opinion leaders based on at least the number of first-degreecontacts each user has. Additionally, the computer-readable language canidentify one or more opinion leaders within a specific subset of theentire network. For instance, the system of the present invention canidentify one or more opinion leaders in the field of pharmacology, orone or more opinion leaders in the field of medical education, or one ormore opinion leaders in a geographic area, and so on.

The system can optionally generate a listing of the one or more opinionleaders and cause the listing of opinion leaders to be displayed by thecomputer terminal with which the user accessed the system of the presentinvention. Computer-readable logic can include instructions controllingthe identification and display of the opinion leaders.

The system of the present invention can optionally includecomputer-readable logic for identifying one or more innovators. Anynumber of factors such as those recited above can be considered andassigned a value to be evaluated by an algorithm included in thecomputer-readable logic.

FIG. 6 is an illustrative arrangement of a Search Screen generated by aCPU under the instruction of computer-readable logic of the presentinvention. The user can input one or more key words relating tosymptoms, medications, therapeutic agents, ailments, diseases, viralinfections, physicians, hospitals, insurance providers, and any otherterm into a key-word field, and optionally narrow the scope of thesearch to a particular subcategory of the entire network. For example,the scope of the search can be narrowed by specifying an insuranceprovider, the number of degrees of separation between the user andanother registered physician that could possess knowledge of interest tothe user, registered physicians within a predetermined geographicdistance from the location of a user or other person, a specificcontext, and any other specification that will narrow the scope of thesearch for the key words input by the user.

Selecting the Go button instructs the system to initiate the searchbased on the user-specified key words entered into the key-word field.Computer-readable logic instructs the search to retrieve all possibleresults that satisfy the key words. These results are then filtered toremove any results that do not comply with the specifications, orotherwise fall within the desired subcategory selected by the user.

FIG. 7 is an illustrative Search-Results screen generated according toinstructions included in computer-readable logic of the presentinvention and displayed by the computer terminal. The search resultsinclude the names of physicians in the user's personal communicationnetwork that satisfy the search criteria input into the Search Screen.The results in FIG. 7 are tabulated with the first-degree, or othermost-closely-related contacts that satisfy the query listed at the topof the table. The physicians that satisfy the query can possessknowledge or experience with respect to a certain ailment, practicewithin a predetermined geographic distance from a user-specifiedlocation, or otherwise be relevant with respect to the key words andother criteria used to perform the search.

As shown in FIG. 7, first-degree contacts listed in the first columndirectly next to the user's profile are physicians who have beenpersonally invited by the user to join the user's personal communicationnetwork. The second-degree, or other second most-closely-relatedcontacts are listed in the second column, but starting in rows directlybeneath rows that list the most-closely-related contacts. For example,in FIG. 7, the first-degree contacts returned by the search are listedin the first column, and in the first two rows. In rows 3 and 4, thesecond-degree contacts are listed in the second column, each of saidsecond-degree contacts being separated from the user's profile by afirst-degree contact.

The first-degree contact that separates each second-degree contact fromthe user in FIG. 7 is a node in the chain of communication that extendsfrom the user to the second-degree contact. Obviously, the user truststhe first degree contact, otherwise the user would not have extended aninvitation to the first-degree contact to join the user's personalcommunication network. The user can make a preliminary determinationabout the trustworthiness of the second-degree contact by consideringthe first-degree contact (Node B) between the user (Node A) and thesecond-degree contact (Node C). For example, if the first-degree contactis a physician in a teaching hospital who is primarily concerned withacademic research of a particular disease, the second-degree contactknown by the first-degree contact is likely to have a similarbackground. In another example, the first-degree contact may have becomeless reputable in light of recent accusations of falsifying experimentaldata. If the second-degree contact was at one time a research partnerwith the first-degree contact, the user can exercise caution inconsulting with the second-degree contact. Regardless of therelationship with the first-degree contact, the user can often obtain aninitial impression on the second-degree contact based on his familiaritywith the first-degree contact.

Referring once again to FIG. 7, the computer-readable logic of thepresent invention can also cause nth degree contacts to be displayed inan arrangement similar to that above for first and second-degreecontacts. Third-degree contacts shown in FIG. 7 are listed in the thirdcolumn from the user and start on row 5. Again, the user can gain apreliminary impression of the trustworthiness of the third-degreecontact by considering the trustworthiness of the first andsecond-degree contacts between the third-degree contact and the user.

Those personal-communication-network members who satisfy the searchcriteria, key words, etc . . . entered with the Search Screen can beidentified as those search results that are highlighted. Additionally,one or more of the search results can be selected with a cursor, border,or other visual indicia, and profile information of the selected searchresult can be shown in a profile window displayed by a display deviceoperatively coupled to the computer terminal by computer-readable logic.The user, once making a preliminary determination about thetrustworthiness of the selected search result, can communicate with theselected search result via contact information provided in the profilewindow. Additionally, contact options are presented in the profilewindow to provide the user with alternate methods of contacting theselected search result. Examples of contact options include Message,allowing the user to send a message to the selected contact with amessenger feature of the present invention; Chat, which allows the userand the selected contact to enter a chat room provided by the presentinvention; and other contact options.

By way of example, authorized users are permitted to enter a statisticalenvironment where they can obtain statistical information aboutphysicians that are members of at least one personal communicationnetwork. Access to the statistical environment can be restricted by alogin or other security feature that would allow authorized users intothe statistical environment while minimizing the ability of unauthorizedusers to gain access to the statistical environment. Similar to theSearch Screen, the statistical environment will permit the user tospecify the statistics the user wishes to observe. For example, the usercan select to observe at least one of the opinion leaders, theinnovators, and any other class of physicians. Further, the opinionleaders, innovators, and other classes of physicians displayed accordingto the present invention can be limited to particular contexts,geographic regions, and other specifications similar to those recitedabove to limit the search results displayed on the Search-ResultsScreen.

Although the system and method are described herein with reference tothe medical field, it is understood that the system and method of thepresent invention can be employed in any field. Further, the searchresults can be arranged in any manner that permits observation of thechain of communication between the user and members of the user'spersonal communication network returned by the search.

1. A method for classifying a member of an internet or computer-basedpersonal-communication-network as an opinion leader or innovator in afield of interest, the personal-communication-network including a numberof members, the method comprising the steps of: gatheringpersonal-communication-network data from information entered andactivities conducted on the personal communication network; andclassifying a personal-communication-network member as an opinion leaderor innovator in a field of interest based upon the gatheredpersonal-communication-network data.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereinthe personal-communication-network data is gathered from one or more ofthe following sources: information in profiles of members, communicationlinks by and among members of the personal communication network,information in communications by and among members of the personalcommunication network, invitations to join personal communicationnetworks, and information regarding previously performed searches. 3.The method of claim 1, wherein the personal-communication-network datais based upon a quantity of personal-communication-network keyword orname searches that list the member in the search results, or wherein thedata is based upon the number of times that otherpersonal-communication-network members access the member's profile. 4.The method of claim 1, wherein the step of classifying is based upon aquantity of invitations that the at least one person has received oraccepted in the personal communication network, wherein all of thenetworks have a field of interest in common.
 5. The method of claim 4,wherein the memberships are defined as being a first, second, or thirddegree contact in the at least one personal communication network, andis weighted accordingly in the classifying step.
 6. The method of claim1, wherein the step of classifying is based upon the quantity ofelectronic communications that the person has sent from or received frompersonal-communication-network members in a field of interest.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the step of classifying is based upon avariable selected from the group consisting of: the quantity ofcommunications between members, the frequency of communication betweenmemberss, the number of words in a communication between members, thedirection of communication between members, the number of key words in acommunication between members, and combinations thereof.
 8. The methodof claim 1, wherein the personal-communication-network data relates topersonal-communication-network keyword searching that the personalcommunication-network members have performed.
 9. The method of claim 1,wherein the step of classifying involves a relative comparison thatincludes a plurality of personal communication networks having the fieldof interest in common.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step ofclassifying involves a relative comparison of the member's quantity ofpersonal-communication-network memberships within the field of interestto at least one other member's quantity ofpersonal-communication-network memberships within the field of interest.11. The method of claim 1, wherein the field of interest is medicine,pediatrics, aerospace medicine, diagnosis and treatment, pharmacology,asthma, allergy and immunology, anesthesiology, colon and rectalsurgery, dermatology, emergency medicine, family practice, generalpreventive medicine, internal medicine, critical care medicine, medicalgenetics, neurology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, preventivemedicine, psychiatry, molecular genetic pathology, neurological surgery,diagnostic radiology, neuroradiology, nuclear medicine, obstetrics,gynecology, occupational medicine, ophthalmology, orthopaedic surgery,otolaryngology, pathology-anatomic and clinical pediatrics, plasticsurgery, preventive medicine, public health, radiation oncology,radiology-diagnostic surgery, thoracic surgery, urology, abdominalradiology addiction psychiatry, adolescent medicine, adultreconstructive orthopaedics, blood banking/transfusion medicine,cardiothoracic radiology, cardiovascular disease, chemical pathology,child neurology, clinical cardiac electrophysiology, clinicalneurophysiology, clinical and laboratory immunology, craniofacialsurgery, critical care medicine, cytopathology, dermatopathology,developmental-behavioral pediatrics, endovascular surgicalneuroradiology, foot and ankle orthopaedics, forensic pathology,forensic psychiatry, gastroenterology, geriatric medicine, geriatricpsychiatry, hand surgery, hematology, oncology, infectious disease,interventional cardiology, medical microbiology, medical toxicology,musculoskeletal oncology, musculoskeletal radiology, neonatal-perinatalmedicine, nephrology, neurodevelopmental disabilities, neuropathology,neuroradiology, neurotology, nuclear radiology, oncology, orthopaedicsports medicine, orthopaedic surgery of the spine, orthopaedic trauma,pain medicine, pediatric anesthesiology, pediatric cardiology, pediatriccritical care medicine, pediatric emergency medicine, pediatricemergency medicine, pediatric endocrinology, pediatric gastroenterology,pediatric hematology/oncology, pediatric infectious diseases, pediatricnephrology, pediatric orthopaedics, pediatric otolaryngology, pediatricpathology, pediatric pulmonology, pediatric radiology, pediatricrehabilitation medicine, pediatric rheumatology, pediatric sportsmedicine, pediatric surgery, pediatric urology, procedural dermatology,pulmonary disease, rheumatology, selective pathology, spinal cordinjury, sports medicine, surgical critical care, undersea and hyperbaricmedicine, vascular neurology, vascular surgery, vascular andinterventional radiology, or a combination thereof
 12. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the step of classifying, includes classifying aperson's innovativeness based upon a quantity ofpersonal-communication-network invitations the person has received froma personal-communication-network member that is classified as aninnovator, early adopter, early majority, late majority, or laggard. 13.The method of claim 1, wherein the step of classifying, includesclassifying a person's innovativeness based upon a factor selected fromthe group consisting of: length of time required for the person torespond to a personal-communication-network invitation, a number ofinvitations sent to the person, a percentage of the population that hasalready adopted an innovation, a time between a similar recentdevelopment's introduction to a market and a time when the personadopted the similar recent development; the person's participation inexperimental studies, and publications by the person, or a combinationthereof.
 14. A method for displaying search results of an internet orcomputer-based the personal communication network search, the thepersonal communication network including a number of members, the methodcomprising the steps of: gathering personal-communication-network datafrom information entered and activities conducted on the personalcommunication network; searching the gatheredpersonal-communication-network data for a key word or phrase identifiedby a party; displaying results of the search by: showing at least onepersonal-communication-network member that is identified by the searchand showing how the party conducting the search is linked to the atleast one personal-communication-network member identified by thesearch; or showing at least one personal-communication-networkcommunication that is identified by the search and showing how the partyconducting the search is linked to the at least onepersonal-communication-network communication identified by the search.15. The method of claim 14, wherein in the step of displaying theresults, each way that a party conducting the search is linked to the atleast one personal-communication-network communication identified by thesearch is shown.
 16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the stepof indicating in the results whether a personal-communication-networkmember identified in the results is an opinion leader or innovator in afield of interest.
 17. The method of claim 14, further comprising thestep of indicating in the results a relationship between the party andthe member identified in the search or a relationship between the partyand an author of the communication identified in the search; wherein therelationship is determined by a search of the gatheredpersonal-communication-network data and is expressed in terms of degreesof separation to the party conducting the search.
 18. The method ofclaim 14, wherein the results are displayed in a tabular form, whereinthe tabular form has at least one horizontal row and at least onevertical column wherein the at least one row shows a personalcommunication network path to a node, and the at least one column showsthe degrees of separation between the node and the person that initiatedthe search.
 19. A method for displaying search results of an internet orcomputer-based personal-communication-network search, the personalcommunication network including a number of members, the methodcomprising the steps of: gathering personal-communication-network datafrom information entered and activities conducted on the personalcommunication network; searching the gatheredpersonal-communication-network data for a key word or phrase identifiedby a party; obtaining results of the search including at least onepersonal-communication-network member that is identified as beingassociated with information related to the key word or phrase;determining whether the at least one identified member is likely topossess information about the key word or phrase by searching thegathered personal-communication-network data; and displaying the resultsof the search by showing at least one member who is likely to possessinformation about the key word or phrase.
 20. The method of claim 19,further comprising the step of electronically processing the key word orphrase identified by the party and determining additional topics,subtopics, or fields of interests associated with the key word orphrase, and including the additional topics, subtopics, or fields ofinterest in the search.
 21. A method for operating an invitation andacceptance process for a personal-communication-network, the steps ofwhich comprise: selecting an original invitee that is not already afirst-degree contact in the personal communication network; presenting aselection to a original invitor whether to send a reciprocal invitationto become a member of the invitee's personal communication network tothe original invitee; compiling an invitation to the original invitee,including the reciprocal invitation, if selected; defining apersonal-communication-network link as unidirectional or bi-directionalbased upon whether the original invitor accepts the reciprocalinvitation or a later reciprocal invitation.
 22. The method of claim 21,wherein the personal communication network member indicates in theinvitation at least one field of interest that the personalcommunication network member would like to communicate about with theinvitee.
 23. The method of claim 21, wherein the personal communicationnetwork is included in a the personal communication network ofphysicians on the basis of peer contacts and evaluations made throughthe network; wherein the member is a physician, and the invitationincludes a message from the physician to an invitee physician indicatinga field of interest for which the invitee physician is invited forinclusion in the network.
 24. The method of claim 23, further comprisingthe step of identifying an opinion leader specialist physician byspecialization and an accounting and evaluation of links in the personalcommunication network which indicate an opinion leader specialistphysician.
 25. A method for defining links between two members of aninternet or computer-based the personal communication network, the thepersonal communication network including a number of members, the methodcomprising the steps of: gathering personal-communication-network datafrom data from information entered and activities conducted on thepersonal communication network; recording one or more electroniccommunications from a first personal-communication-network member to asecond personal-communication-network member; quantifying or qualifyingthe use of a key word or key phrase within the electronic communication;and defining the links between members using information gathered in thestep of quantifying or qualifying.
 26. The method of claim 25, whereinthe step of quantifying or qualifying includes a step selected from thegroup consisting of: quantifying the number of electronic communicationsbetween the members, recording the frequency of electronic communicationbetween the members, recording the number of words in an electroniccommunication between the members, recording the direction ofcommunication between the members, or recording the use of keywords inan electronic communication between the members, or a combinationthereof.
 27. The method of claim 25, wherein the links between membersare defined as a field of interest related to the key word or keyphrase.
 28. A method for filtering an internet or computer-based searchperformed by a user using a personal communication network as a filter,the method comprising the steps of: identifying a key word or phrase forsearching; searching for the key word or phrase; and filtering thesearch by identifying results that arc related to members of thepersonal communication network.
 29. The method of claim 28, furthercomprising displaying results of the filtered search with an indicationof the number of degrees of separation between the user and a memberrelated to the result, or with an indication of how the user is linkedto the member.
 30. A system for identifying an opinion leader specialistphysician within a personal communication network of physicians on thebasis of peer contacts and evaluations made through the network, thesystem comprising: a registration process for registering the identityand specialties of a plurality of physicians for inclusion in thenetwork; an invitation and acceptance process for establishing linksbetween physicians, the invitation including a message from a physicianin the network to an invitee physician indicating a field of interestfor which the invitee physician is invited for inclusion in the network,and accept, decline and reciprocate response options for the inviteephysician, the response of the invitee physician determining a status ofa link between physicians as unidirectional or bi-directional; and anetwork analyzer which identifies an opinion leader specialist physicianby specialization and an accounting and evaluation of links in thepersonal communication network which indicate an opinion leaderspecialist physician.